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Cradled in a crook of the Sundays River, to the approaching traveler, Graaff-Reinet seems like a verdant oasis in the stark surrounding landscape, yet, practically every visitor remarks on its unique old-world character.

Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest settlement in South Africa (after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Swellendam), with a higher percentage of buildings having been officially declared historical monuments than is the case for any other city in South Africa.  The town has a fascinating history and the region has a most interesting pre-history, all of which are well-depicted and told in four separate museums.

When “de Wiljdgelegen Colonie van Graaff-Reinet” (the far off colony of Graaff-Reinet) was established in 1786, the district covered all the territory from the Gamtoos River in the West to the Great Fish River in the East, and from the Indian Ocean to a few kilometers south of the Gariep (Orange River). This was the fourth district to be proclaimed in South Africa and as a result received a “drostdy” or seat of local government.

Named after Cornelis Jacob van de Graaf and his wife Cornelia Reynet it is one of two towns in our country named after Dutch governors. For years it was a certain stopover for every traveller to the interior. It has experienced four changes of supreme government (including the proclamation of the so-called “Republic of Graaff-Reinet”  and at times it has been the focal point of insurgence, political tension and border wars along its eastern frontier. It was visited and described by such early travellers as Barrow, Burchell, Lichtenstein and Moffat. Later in the mid-nineteenth century it was one of the starting points for the exodus of the Voortrekkers.

From the late eighteenth century right up to the arrival of the railway, a century later, Graaff-Reinet was a bustling trading center, and in 1865 there were sixty four recognized public ‘outspans’. These were essential to maintain the ox wagon transport system, as places to rest, water and feed the oxen. Inns were established at many of the ‘outspans’ for the convenience of travellers.

Graaff-Reinet has long been renowned for its attractive and well-preserved historical homes and buildings, for which it has been widely acclaimed as the “Gem of the Karoo”.  In 2005 Graaff-Reinet acquired another distinction with the proclamation of the Camdeboo National Park , making it the only town in South Africa to be surrounded by a National Park.  The Camdeboo National Park is a mecca for hikers, photographers and students of flora and fauna. Included in this reserve is the famous and awe-inspiring Valley of Desolation as well as the scenic Toposcope lookout point.

Graaff-Reinet boasts several famous sons, including Lord Somerset, Robert Sobukwe, Beyers Naude, and Dr. Anton Rupert.  Robert Sobukwe’s widow still resides here, and ironically the building that once housed the Graaff-Reinet Commandos is now named after the former Pan African Congress leader.

Some interesting facts on Graaff-Reinet:

• When the Boer War broke out at the end of the 19th century, the citizens of Graaff-Reinet fought on the side of the Boers. Extensive vineyards existed at that time, and Graaff-Reinet was well-known as a wine and brandy producing area. Here ostrich farming had a vigorous start and the Camdeboo farming region became popular with the Cape Town butchers long before the town was actually established.
• The broad streets of Graaff-Reinet are due to the fact that ox wagons needed enough space to turn.
• The town lies 759m above sea level.

The 19^th century Karoo style cottages are well equipped to meet all self-catering needs, including the provision of fresh linen and towels and a fully equipped kitchen. Privacy and security is assured as the nine cottages form a secluded courtyard with covered carports. Guests can also enjoy the tranquillity of a swimming pool and garden.

We have nine self-catering cottages, all of which are national monuments.

We offer a wide variety of hearty, home-cooked meals which boast both local and traditional flavours. Meals can be eaten in an idyllic and relaxing setting around the swimming pool where guests can enjoy a few sun-downers whilst watching the sun set over the mountains. Dinner is available by booking at reception.

Breakfast
A full English Breakfast or a Continental Breakfast can be served in the cottages between 7-9am (room service) or buffet style around the swimming pool.
A’la Carte Menu for Lunch or Dinner

Experience true Karoo cuisine – our specialities include:

• Springbok.
• Karoo lamb.
• Kudu.
• Bobotie.
• Chicken Schnitzel.
• Springbok pie.

And lots more

Three Course Meals
The following meals are available for groups by prior arrangement only. All meals are served with dessert and coffee and tea. Vegetarians are also catered for.

A Typical South African braai
Experience a traditional Karoo braai with a candlelit meal consisting of meats, breads and various salads. A glass of Withond, the local house-drink, is a must for all.

Three – course Springbok and Bobotie evening
Enjoy two traditional South African meals served in three courses. The first is Springbok which is a tender meat that is a must for first time visitors to South Africa. The second is Bobotie which is a dish filled with spicy curry flavours and nuances, reminiscent of the Malay influences in South African food.

Three- course Karoo lamb
Karoo lamb is renowned for its succulent and tender nature. This tasty meal consists of soup, Karoo lamb, vegetables of the day, rice, roasted potatoes and a variety of salads.

Potjiekos
This all-time favourite is unique to South Africa and consists of meat, vegetables and potatoes served on a bed of rice. Potjiekos is slowly cooked in a black iron pot on an open fire for several hours which ensures that the food is flavourful and tender.

Kudu Steak evening
Delicious Kudu steak is prepared in a special home-made marinade and served with a variety of salads, a potato dish and fresh bread.

Special meals available on request.
Light meals are also available. Popular choices include the Karoo lamb or Springbok salads or Spinach and Feta wrapped in Phyllo served with a Greek Salad.

Surrounded by the breath taking Camdeboo National Park, Graaff-Reinet, South Africa’s 4th oldest city, lies at the heart of the Great Karoo. Whether you’re into history or nature, looking to relax or seeking your next big adrenaline rush, Graaff – Reinet has something for everyone.

Top 5 Tourist Attractions

1. The Valley of Desolation, a geological wonder of weathered dolerite pillars with magnificent views over the Karoo plains has also been declared a national monument.
2. The Camdeboo National Park of 19 000 ha, on the outskirts of the town with its interesting flora and fauna.
3. Reinet House Museum – a Cape Dutch building, formerly the Dutch Reformed Church parsonage – and other important Karoo architecture sites.
4. The Dutch Reformed Church in the centre of the town is a prominent stone building in the high street with seating for more than 1000 people.
5. The Drostdy Hotel – A Cape Dutch building erected in 1806 as the local seat of government by the VOC. Currently a hotel with Stretch’s Court, a picturesque restored street of Karoo cottages with brightly painted shutters and doors.

Camdeboo Tours

Several guided tours are on offer to some of Graaff-Reinet’s main highlights including the Valley of Desolation, Game Viewing in the Camdeboo National Park and the Umasizake Township Tour. For nature lovers there are a variety of guided nature walks on offer in the area. 4×4 Trips in the Camdeboo National Park and a variety of overnight trips to the Baviaanskloof are also available for those that are seeking more of an adventurous experience.

Valley Of Desolation Tour

The Valley of Desolation is a geological phenomenon that is situated in the Camdeboo National Park. The three hour long tour starts with an introduction to the Fauna and Flora of the Graaff-Reinet region. Game may be spotted on the drive up to the Valley of Desolation such as Kudu, Blesbuck, Spingbuck and Mountain Rhebuck. At the Toposcope a brief overview of the surrounding mountains is given, as well as information on the way of life of the people of Graaff-Reinet. At the Valley of Desolation a circular walk is done offering a great view of the dolerite pillars and Camdeboo plains. Sundowners are available upon request.

Game Viewing in the Camdeboo National Park

There are 43 species of mammals, 336 species of plants and over 225 recorded species of bird life to be found in this Karoo region as well as the Cape Buffalo which is one of the Big Five. The guided game viewing tours are generally in the early morning or late afternoon as this is the best time for game viewing in the Camdeboo National Park.

Township Tour

Visitors can experience a taste of life in a local township by joining the two-hour long tour through Graaff-Reinet’s township, Umasizakhe. Walk around with your local guide and visit a family where you can enjoy a refreshing cup of tea and snack on some freshly made roosterbrood – a small bread baked on an open fire. Pass the house where Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, the founder of the Pan African Congress, grew up. The tour ends off with a chance to view some local exhibits demonstrating parts of the Xhosa culture and the opportunity to purchase some local handmade crafts and goods.

Guided Nature Walks

Gideon Scheepers Trail

This trail starts from the Gideon Scheepers Memorial roughly 3km outside of Graaff-Reinet on the Murraysberg Road. The trail zigzag’s up the foot of the mountain and levels out, displaying a magnificent view of Nqweba Dam and the surrounding area. Numerous antelope can be encountered along the route, such as Kudu and Hartebeest.

Driekoppen Trail

This is a scenic route which stretches approximately 12km and is situated on the Eastern-side of the Camdeboo National Park with plenty of wildlife to view along the way. The trail can be strenuous during the hot summer with a 510m gain in altitude from 784m at the start to 1284m.

The Eerstefontein Day Walk

There are three different options for visitors to choose from which vary in difficulty with the maximum duration of the tour being six hours long.

• The first option is to walk to Eerstefontein (at the base of the ‘pan-handle’ located on the fringe of the town) and back, a distance of about five kilometers, passing through Spandaunek at 935m. Following the route hikers experience a wide change in vegetation and different species of birds that are representative of the Karoo.
• The second option extends your walk to Agterstefontein where hikers are guaranteed of numerous wildlife sightings, including Kudu, Cape Mountain Zebra, Mountain Rheebuck, Springbok, Baboons and perhaps a Bat-eared Fox among many other species.
• Hikers who decide to do the entire full day route (a total distance of 16 km) continue with the trail climbing to the top of Akkediskrans along a twisting pathway between large dolerite boulders with many mountain plum, cabbage and Shepard’s trees. From this point it is a fairly level walk along a doleritic terrace until dropping downhill into Wildebeeskom. From here the trail follows an old game path along the alluvial sediments of a flat-bottomed watershed which originates at Spandaunek – the base of the ‘pan-handle’.

Organized 4×4 Trips in the Camdeboo National Park ~ only available upon request

Driekoppe 4×4 Trail (grade 2)

This is a great day trip offering numerous opportunities to do short walks and experience close sightings of the mountain zebra – Price is per vehicle and lunch can be provided.

Koedoeskloof 4×4 Trail (grade 3 to 4)

This trip offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The Trail provides a 7-kilometre drive to the top of the mountain, providing unique and spectacular views of the landscape. The route can be completed with a return journey following the same track in about three hours, depending on the length of your stop at the turnaround point.

The first section travels through Nama Karoo vegetation where you might spot springbok, red hartebeest and blesbok. The trail then passes through thicket vegetation where kudu and baboons are common. Cape mountain zebra and grey rhebok can be seen on the final section which is vegetated with open grassland and bush clump savannah.

On the route, there are wonderful views of the Nqweba Dam, the plains of Camdeboo and an unusual back-angle view of the Valley of Desolation. The turning point, which lies on top of the mountain in the Winterhoek area of the Park, is the perfect place for a picnic lunch or tea break and a picnic table is provided here.

Price is per vehicle and lunch can be provided.

Baviaanskloof Adventure Tours

Full day or multi-day guided tours are available in the Baviaanskloof that stretches more than 100km between the Kouga Mountains (in the South) and Baviaanskloof Mountains (in the North). The Baviaanskloof is situated between Willowmore and Patensie. This wilderness area can be explored by traveling along an untarred road that cuts its way down through the Winterhoek Mountains in the North to the Gamtoos Valley in the South. The Baviaanskloof is a U-shaped reserve currently occupying 180 000 hectares, and is named after the baboons commonly found in the area.

The road was built by Thomas Bains in the 1880’s. Visitors can either travel the Grootrivierpoort pass from Steytlerville to Patensie or travel from Patensie via Bergplaas, into the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve continuing on to Willowmore. Alternatively, the two routes can be combined into a 2 or 3 day exploration of the Baviaanskloof. Prior booking is necessary and rates vary according to size of group and length of stay. We are able to tailor make each tour to suit each individuals’ needs.

Cheetah Experience

Experience the delight, fear and exhilaration when cheetahs hunt.

We offer visitors the opportunity to see and experience cheetah hunting in the wild.  The excursion consists of walking with cheetahs while they are hunting.  One sees the effort and time it takes for these animals to hunt down their prey.  All people participating have to walk in single file, dressed accordingly and be very quite for the duration of the hunt, which in some cases can be up to 6 hours.

Buks Marais describes his first encounter – “We stood near the vehicle as 2 cheetahs – brothers both about 5 years old – were let out of their camp.  They are tame and walked right passed us, ready to hunt. We followed them for most of the morning as they attempted to hunt down Impala and Kudu.

Finally the kill happened very fast.  We saw the one cheetah heading up the hill, the other cheetah charged down the hill, splitting the herd of Moutain Rheedbuck.  The cheetah caught up with a Rheedbuck ewe at the bottom of the hill and with one decisive bite put her down and starting gorging at the hindquarters.”

This was our second visit to Camdeboo Cottages, and we enjoyed it just as much as our first visit. Our cottage was beautifully furnished and very comfortable. The grounds of the complex are very nice and well-maintained. – JonCP

percolated coffee will be my come back for stay( in the room). the maintenance is good and the general appearance top class. the breakfast was excellent and may delay your trip purely because of the tranquil atmosphere. – paulvF6401RF

i found the cottages clean and cool. the staff were friendly and helpful. the pool area is lovely for a hot day . i have no complaints at all and would recommend the cottages to anyone who wanted clean and affordable overnight accommodation. – Jennifer S